Courses

• CFA TH 403: Advanced Playwriting
  Prereq: CFA TH 303 or consent of instructor; Students will learn the art of developing an early stage first draft into a production ready final rehearsal draft. Run like an intensive development workshop, this is where the most intensive, and arguably, most satisfying work will begin. Students learn the nuts and bolts of massaging a play: fleshing out characters, streamlining action, refining dialogue and finessing structure. Playwrights will also learn about the expectations and strategies for productive collaborative in-process relationships with actors, directors and dramaturges. This class is required for writers intending to produce original works for BFA Thesis. 3.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 408: Contemporary Theatre Practice
  An introductory forum for theatre students of varying disciplines examining the performance work, methodology, and techniques of contemporary theatre artists, theatre groups, and performance artists. Expands the students' awareness and knowledge of theatre practice internationally. Encourages the investigation of diverse approaches to work in the theatre in our contemporary world. Extensive research and reading. This class is taught as a seminar. 2.0 credits.
• CFA TH 411: Voice & Speech 4: Thesis Development
  Prereq: TH 311; Continuation in development of vocal instrument, workshops in special topics and individual coaching in support of actor's performance in productions. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 412: Voice & Speech 4: Thesis Application
  Prereq: CFA TH411; Continuation in development vocal instrument, workshops in special topics and individual coaching in support of actor's performance in productions. 2.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 421: Acting 4: Thesis Development
  Prereq: CFA TH 321; Experience in the application of techniques to define and fulfill the actor's work in terms of form and content as required by the play and its performance. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 422: Acting 4: Professional Lifetime Skills
  Prereq: CFA TH421; For Senior Acting Majors or by instructor's permission. Focus on synthesizing the actor's training into the practical and artistic tolls necessary to work creatively and collaboratively in the profession. Includes deepening and integrating skills in auditions, readings, and rehearsal process, as well as panel discussions on the business of theatre. 3.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 423: Advanced Physical Approach to
  Prereq: TH 323; For students who have already participated in advanced physical work previously, this course provides an opportunity for each actor to deepen his/her work through continued exploration of psycho-physical connections. Rigorous physical training, object exploration, vocal proposal experimentation, creation and execution of physical action scores. Application to text and character work and the making of a montage in collaboration with fellow actors. 3 credits.
• CFA TH 425: Acting: Shakespeare
  Prereq: Consent of instructor; Begins with personalization of the text, learning how to speak from one's own life experience. Explores connection between breath and thought/feeling. Then moves on to intellectual and technical demands, treating text more analytically, focusing on comprehension, inflection, dynamics and rhythm. Text will include sonnets, monologues and scenes. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 426: Classical Techniques in Contemporary Acting
  Prereq: Consent of instructor; In this course, considerable time will be spent investigating how classical training can enhance the embodiment of contemporary text. We will use acting techniques perhaps more commonly associated with classical work to explore contemporary plays that contain either heightened language or elevated ideas, or both. We may sample historical texts from time to time, as they prove useful in the approach to contemporary material. 2.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 427: Theatre Ensemble 4: Thesis Development
  Prereq: CFA TH 227 or CFA TH 228 or CFA TH 327; This course serves as the culminating experience for senior Theatre Arts majors. The course involves the process of selecting a thesis project, choosing partners with whom to collaborate, then coming together as an ensemble to determine the process for producing the projects in the spring semester. Topics include developing a company mission, goals and priorities, as well as fundraising and marketing. Part one of a two semester-long course. Required all senior BFA Theatre Arts majors. 3.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 428: Senior Thesis: Theatre Arts
  Prereq: CFA TH 427, plus prior academic experience in directing, choreography, or playwriting depending on the individual focus of a student's thesis project participation. Students form a company to present a festival of plays at the end of the semester. Thesis work can focus on playwriting, producing, directing, dramaturgy, or performance and project collaboration is strongly encouraged. 3.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 429: Understanding the Camera
  Prereq: SOT Only (majors and minors), senior standing or permission from instructor. This course is designed to provide students an acclimation to the artistic and professional transition of "on‐camera" work. Class work will focus on the development of on‐camera skills through performance practice and editing for presentation. Students will develop their own material individually and in groups. An introduction to basic film making (lighting, sound, editing), marking, scene takes and script analysis will help develop an understanding of how to create more dynamic and complete characters created specifically for the screen. In‐depth analysis of the current medium as it exists in all markets (film, television, and online) will be a constant element of the course. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 430: Film/Television Lab
  Fall Semester: In the first semester of this course students develop skills on how to prepare for professional work in Film and Television. Lectures and workshops will focus on the process of auditioning/casting for film and television and will help students to identify their potential for success in that medium (even in areas beyond acting). Various scenarios for meetings/auditions/screen tests will help to make students "industry-ready" and serve as a precursor to the post graduate "Acting in Hollywood" program 2.0 credits. Fall semester. Spring Semester: In the second semester College of Fine Arts and College of Communication students work in collaboration to rehearse, develop and film material for presentation. The course emphasizes building stronger communication in the actor and director relationship especially as it relates to the artistic on camera storytelling process. The course meets weekly for both in class exercises, development of camera technique, as well as filmed scene presentation and critique. However, students should be prepared to commit additional hours outside of class for rehearsal and at times the filming of their scenes. 2.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 431: Movement 4: Thesis Development
  Prereq: CFA TH 331; Explorations of physical theatre, choreography, and movement styles for non-verbal requirement of BFA Acting thesis.
• CFA TH 437: Alexander Technique 4: The Actor's Consciousness
  Prereq: CFA TH 337; In-depth study of Carl Stough's breathing coordination principles. Continue to develop skills to understand what is the actor's consciousness and what is character's consciousness. Private coaching and hands on scene work to attain high-level performance techniques. 1.0 credit. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 438: Alexander Technique 4: Thesis Application
  Prereq: CFA TH437 or consent of instructor; Team taught with Judy Braha. Coaching for a scene with an Alexander teacher and an Acting teacher together helps the students to attain high-level performance techniques. 1.0 credit. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 440: Experiencing London Theatre in the Postwar World
  The objective of this course will be to relate the experience of the internship to the overall picture of contemporary British theatre in London. To understand a broad range of the major developments in British drama over the past 70 years and to relate drama to broad changes in British society. In addition the class will examine the work of specific writers and directors in detail and stimulate critical analysis through written work and discussion, as well as understanding the role of the Arts council and state subsidy of the performing arts. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate an awareness of British theatre, and an insight into how it is organized and why it has developed in its present form. 4.0 credits. Course offered through Boston University London Internship Program.
• CFA TH 441: Undergraduate Directing Colloquium 2
  Prereq: CFA TH 341; Projects with undergraduate theatre majors in plays of various lengths. Focus is on preparation for rehearsal and on rehearsal process. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 442: Undergraduate Directing Colloquium 3
  Prereq: CFA TH441 or permission of instructor, concurrent registration with CFA DR428; Projects with undergraduate theatre majors in plays of various lengths. Focus is on preparation for rehearsal and on rehearsal process. 2.0 credits
• CFA TH 447: Rehearsal & Performance 3
  Rehearsal/Performance & Production assignment work for participation in the School of Theatre Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 productions. Faculty assignment is based on faculty advising on a given production, all students should first register for the "X1-Staff" section at 1.0 credit per quarter of casting. After the student has been cast, they will be re-sectioned to the appropriate faculty advisor in charge of grading for that project. Course for SOT population only. Variable credits. Fall semester.

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